The product offensive starts in late 2023. In late July, Mini revealed a concept to tease the new EV-focused design language, called Charismatic Simplicity, which leans in on minimalism and technology and delivers a twist on the brand’s iconic design elements.
Future Minis will be green under the hood and on the inside, as evidenced by the Mini Concept Aceman, which debuted a leather- and chrome-free interior with knitted recycled textile surfaces.
“This concept car reflects how Mini is reinventing itself for its all-electric future and what the brand stands for: an electrified go-kart feel, an immersive digital experience, and a strong focus on a minimal environmental footprint,” Mini brand boss Stefanie Wurst said.
Electric compact crossover: The new EV would slot below the brand’s bestselling Countryman. Developed in cooperation with Great Wall Motor, the China-made Mini crossover will debut an all-electric platform and a modern design.
Mini teased the model in the Aceman, a four-door concept that seats five and hints at roomier Minis. Its two-box design with short overhangs maximizes interior roominess in a compact exterior footprint that measures 159.45 inches long and 78.35 inches wide. Extended edges on the lower body, contoured wheel arches, large wheels and a roof rack accentuate its crossover looks.
The closed grille is surrounded by clear surfaces, with the traditionally hexagonal outline tweaked into an octagonal contour.
Not clear yet is whether the EV will be greenlighted for the U.S. market.
Electric small car: The China-made compact hatchback would be smaller than the current Hardtop. Mini will jointly develop it with Great Wall Motor. Whether the model will reach U.S. dealers remains to be seen.
Countryman: The four-door compact crossover will bulk up in its next generation and should arrive in 2024. The redesigned crossover will be based on BMW Group’s front-wheel-drive FAAR platform shared with the BMW X1. According to Autocar, the third-generation Countryman could grow by 7.9 inches in length, bumping the crossover into the Toyota RAV4 and Nissan Rogue Sport product segment.
The 2024 redesign will be available in combustion engine and all-electric powertrains. Mini could ditch the plug-in hybrid version of the Countryman.
Clubman: Production of the hatchback will end in 2024, and a successor to the low-volume model is not planned.
Hardtop: For the 2023 model year, the Hardtop received minor updates to the infotainment and driving safety features and added a paint color. A redesign will arrive in the second half of 2024.
According to media reports, the new version includes a partially closed grille design and triangular-shaped taillights missing Mini’s signature Union Jack motif. A large floating circular display anchors the dashboard, and the instrument cluster appears to be replaced by a head-up display.
Cooper SE: For the 2023 model year, the battery-powered car received updated seats and a new exterior color. The Cooper SE, powered by a 32.6-kilowatt-hour battery, delivers about 114 miles of range on a full charge.
The next-generation Cooper SE will arrive in 2024, shorter and lighter than the current model and built on a dedicated EV platform. The two-door model should pack a larger battery than the current offering, delivering greater driving range.
The next SE will feature redesigned headlights and taillights, and a new octagonal grille design. The interior sports a minimalist dashboard anchored by a floating round touch screen.
Convertible: Bucking conventional wisdom and speculation, Mini said it will hang onto its low-volume four-seat convertible in a market that overwhelmingly favors roomier crossovers. Mini execs promise a ragtop redesign in 2025 but have not said if it will be powered by fossil fuel or electrons.